POSITIONING, TURNING, MOVING,AND TRANSFERING PATIENTS
Mar 27, 2015
POSITIONING, TURNING, MOVING,AND TRANSFERING PATIENTS
INTRODUCTION
RESPONSIBILITY OF HEALTH CARE WORKER
IF PROCEDURES DONE CORRECTLY, PROVIDE PATIENT WITH OPTIMUM COMFORT AND CARE
ALSO HELP WORKER PREVENT INJURY TO SELF
CORRECT BODY MECHANICS ESSENTIAL FOR ANY OF THE PROCEDURES
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE OR TURN A PATIENT BY YOURSELF, ALWAYS GET HELP
ALIGNMENT
DEFINED AS POSITIONING BODY PARTS IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER TO MAINTAIN CORRECT BODY POSTURE
DIRECT PATIENT CARE TOWARD MAINTAINING NORMAL BODY ALIGNMENT
CORRECT ALIGNMENT HELPS PATIENT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND PREVENTS FATIQUE
HELPS PREVENT DECUBITIS ULCERS
DECUBITUS ULCERS
ALSO CALLED PRESSURE SORES OR BEDSORES
CAUSED BY PRESSURE ON AN AREA THAT INTERFERES WITH CIRCULATION
COMMON IN AREAS WHERE BONES ARE CLOSE TO SKIN, SUCH AS TAILBONE OR COCCYGEAL AREA, HIPS, KNEES, AND ELBOWS
DEVELOPMENT OF DECUBITIS ULCERS FIRST SIGN IS PALE OR REDDENED
AREA ON THE SKIN VESICLE OR BLISTER MAY FORM AT
THE SITE AS CELLS DIE, SKIN BREAKS DOWN
AND AN ULCER OR OPEN SORE DEVELOPS
EASIER TO PREVENT DECUBITIS ULCERS THAN IT IS TO TREAT THEM
PROVIDE GOOD SKIN CARE CLEAN URINE AND FECES FROM
SKIN PROMPTLY MASSAGE IN A CIRCULAR MOTION
AROUND A REDDENED AREA
APPLY A LIGHT DUSTING OF POWDER TO AREAS WHERE SKIN TOUCHES SKIN TO AVOID FRICTION
TURN PATIENT FREQUENTLY TO CHANGE POSITION
POSITION TO AVOID PRESSURE ON IRRITATED AREAS
KEEP LINEN DRY AND FREE FROM WRINKLES
OBSERVE SKIN CAREFULLY DURING BATHING AND TURNING
REPORT PALE OR REDDENED AREAS IMMEDIATELY
HELPS PREVENT CONTRACTURES TIGTHENING OR SHORTING OF A
MUSCLE DUE TO LACK OF MOVEMENT OR USAGE OF A MUSCLE
FOOT DROP IS A COMMON CONTRACTURE
PREVENT IN PART BY KEEPING FOOT AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LEG
USE FOOTBOARDS AND HIGH-TOP TENNIS SHOES TO KEEP FOOT IN THIS POSITION
RANGE OF MOTION EXERCISES ALSO HELP PREVENT CONTRACTURES
RANGE OF MOTION IS ABBREVIATED ROM
MOVES AND TURNS
PATIENTS WHO ARE CONFINED TO BED MUST BE TURNED FREQUENTLY
POSITION SHOULD BE CHANGED AT LEAST EVERY TWO HOURS IF PERMITTED BY DOCTOR
REASONS FOR TURNING FREQUENTLY PROVIDES EXERCISE FOR
MUSCLES STIMULATES CIRCULATION HELPS PREVENT DECUBITIS
ULCERS AND CONTRACTURES PROVIDES COMFORT TO THE
PATIENT
DANGLING
DANGLING MEANS SITTING PATIENT WITH LEGS HANGING DOWN OVER THE SIDE OF THE BED
PATIENT FREQUENTLY PLACED IN THIS POSITION PRIOR TO BEING TRANSFERRED FROM BED IF CONFINED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME
PULSE IS CHECKED THREE TIMES DURING PROCEDURE TAKEN JUST BEFORE PATIENT
MOVED TO SERVE AS RESTING OR CONTROL RATE
TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER POSITIONING PATIENT IN DANGLING POSITION
TAKEN AFTER PATIENT HAS RETURNED TO LYING POSITION
BY NOTING CHANGES IN PULSE RATE YOU CAN DETERMINE HOW WELL PATIENT TOLERATES PROCEDURE
OTHER OBSERVATIONS TO BE MADE CHECK RESPIRATORY RATE CHECK BALANCE AND NOTE
VERTIGO OR DIZZINESS NOTE AMOUNT OF PERSIPRATION
AND COLOR
RETURN PATIENT IMMEDIATELY TO SUPINE IF EXCESSIVE INCREASE IN PULSE
RATE OR WEAK PULSE SIGNS OF LABORED RESPIRATIONS COLOR BECOMES PALE OR
INCREASED PERSPIRATION NOTED PATIENT GETS DIZZY OR WEAK
TRANSFERS
PATIENTS TRANSFERRED TO WHEELCHAIRS, CHAIRS, AND STRETCHERS
CORRECT PROCEDURES MUST BE FOLLOWED TO PREVENT INJURY TO BOTH PATIENT AND WORKER
IMPLEMENTATION
PLACE BED IN LOW POSITION RAISE HEAD OF BED ASSIST PATIENT TO DANGLE
MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF WHEELCHAIRS AND STRETCHERS AVAILABLE
IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, ASK IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR TO DEMONSTRATE CORRECT OPERATION
MECHANICAL LIFTS
FREQUENTLY USED TO TRANSER WEAK OR PARALYZED PATIENTS
READ INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED CHECK STRAPS, CLASPS, AND
SLING FOR ANY DEFECTS USE SMOOTH EVEN MOVEMENTS
WHILE OPERATING LIFT
REASSURE FRIGHTENED PATIENTS THAT LIFT IS SAFE
MOVE UNNECESSARY FURNITURE OUT OF THE WAY DURING TRANSFERS
PARTICULARLY INPORTANT IN HOME CARE SITUATIONS